francklyn



M. B. FRANCKLYN um. 22, 1924.. I 1,481,420

DECORATIVE ART Filed March 30. 1921 INVENTOR MARY BRENDA FRANCKLYN an-EMATTY Patented Jan. 22, i924,

state Y BRENDA FR-ANCKLYN, OF REDWOGD CITY, CALIFORNIA.

DECORATIVE ART.

Application filed March 30, 1921. Serial No; 456,948."

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L Mani BRENDA FRANOKLYN, a British subject, residing atRedwood City, in the county of San Mateo and State of California, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Decorative Art, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a decorative art, and especially toimprovements in the manufacture of ornamental window screens andthelike.

One of the objects of the present invention is the production of anarticle of the class specified which will be of a permanent lastingnature; flexible to a certain degree; substantially heat-proof;semi-transparent; weather and damp-proof; and above all sufficientlyopen to permit a free circulationof air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a filler for maskingor closing the interstices of predetermined areas of a wire screen; tocoat and surface the same; and to permit varying designs to be readilyformed and painted theron; further to'provide a filler or masking agentof a semi transparent nature which when painted or otherwise decoratedwill produce the effect of a stained glass in certain instances, textileornamented fabrics inother instances, and in fact any design ordecoration desired.

Further objects-and features of the-invention will be later referred to,upon referring to the accompanying drawing wherein the figure is a frontView of a window screen showing it ornamented by my method.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A indicates a coarsely woven fabric,such as wire screen or the like, B a'frame supporting the same, and Cthe masked and decorated portion of the screen.

In the process of preparing the fabric, I first subject the same to asuitable cleansing bath in order that all foreign particles and greasewill be properly removed therefrom. After this operation the fabric iscoated with paint, enamel or a similar material to protect the sameagainst rust. This may be accomplished either by dipping the fabricdirectly. in a solution, by spraying the same or by applying it with apaint-brush. Care should, however, be taken that the interstices of thescreen are not closed as one of the features of the present invention isthe provision of a screen of this character in WlllGl'l air 1s permltedto freely circulate even though portions thereof are closed anddecorated. After the coating material has been applied, it'is obviousthat the screen shouldbe dried for a suitable period before itis'further proceeded with.

The next step in the method of manufao turingand preparing screensby mymethod consists in applying a masking agent to that area of the screenwhich itis desired'to deccrate. To accomplish thisl takeonquart of waterand two and one-half ounces of gelatine glue. This glue is dissolvedinwater by heating, and when-completely dissolved is cleared by adding thewhite of one egg to the quart of dissolved glue and water. The egg shellis also crushed and added and the mixture is gradually brought to theboiling point, care being taken that the mixture is stirred all the timeto prevent burning. When thoroughly boiled, theitemperature is reducedsothat it will simmer gently for about one-half hour, no stirring takingplace at this time as the object of adding thewhite of an egg and theegg shell is to clear the glue. After simmering for one-half hour theentire mixture is permitted to cool and when thoroughly. cool isstrained through a cloth or any other suitable filteringmedium. One andone-half ounces, of plaster of Parisis then. addedto the gluesolutionandonce more brought to the boilingpoint; theentire mixturebeing constantlystirred during the addition of the plaster of Paris, and thereafter,anda small amount of carbolic acid may be also added if desired to preventdecomposition of the glue if it should be permitted to stand for aperiod of a few days or weeks. When the mixture of water, glue andplaster of Paris has been prepared, and while it is kept at a boilingtemperature, it is in readiness to be applied to the screen.

By referring to the drawing, we will suppose that the screen is to bedecorated as shown. The masking agent or the glue preparation justdescribed is then applied so that the area covered by the decorationwill be the only area which will be masked. The preparation is appliedwith a fiat aint-brush and the preparation has such a consistency thatit will close the interstices of the area to which it is applied and assuch will form a fiat smooth surface which becomes fairly hard whenthoroughly dried. The glue solution is sen:i-transparent and it is,practically speaking, heat-proot. After the glue solution, or What maybe termed the masking agent, has been applied and has been permitted tothoroughly dry, it is obvious that the screen is ready for the receptionof the colors. In this instance I preferably employ oil paints; saidpaints being preferably semitransparent to permit the light to passtherethrough. After the paint has dried, I linally complete the entireoperation by coating both sides of the screen with one or more coats ofshellac. This is important as it not only gives brilliancy to thedecoration, but it further gives added protection against moisture,heat, cold, etc. It should be understood that When the last coating ofshellac is applied, that care should also then be taken that theinterstices of the screen are not closed as tree circulation of air isdesired through the major portion of the screen.

One of the most important features of the present invention is the factthat the masking agent, towit, glue and plaster of Paris, is coveredWith oil paint. This is a Very important feature as it renders themasking agent completely moisture, Water and damp-proof. The shellaccoating, While preferably employed, may be eliminated under certainconditions.

The present method of decoration isnot only limited to Window screensconstructed of Wire or cloth, but canobviously be applied to any coarsefabric Where decorations ol? one form or another are desired, forinstance it might be advantageously employed in: connection with firescreens, stage scenery or otherwise.

In actual practice I find that by employing a semi-transparent filler ormasking agent, and by covering the masking agent with semi-transparentcolors, practically any decorative effect can be obtained, for in stancea stained glass Window may be easily imitated, a lace curtain ellcct,andornamented textile iabric imitations can be easily obtained; thebrilliant and final effect produced being largely depended upon thetransparency of the masking agent and the oil colors employed.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is- 1. The herein described process of manufacturingdecorative Window screens having transparent and semi-transparent areasWhich consist in coating a coarse Wire screen to protect the screenagainst rust Without filling the interstices thereof and applying asemi-transparent masking agent consisting oi a filler oi glue andplaster Paris to predetermined. areas of the screen to fill theinterstices of said areas, painting the masked areas with seni-transparent oil colors to decorate the same and to render the maskingagent Water and damp proof, while preserving the semi-transparentcharacter of the painted areas and then shellacing both sides of thescreen Without filling the interstices of the open portion of thescreen.

2. A new article of manufacture, a decorative screen having transparentand semitransparent areas comprising a coarse Wire screen having acoating to protect the screen against rust without filling theinterstices thereof, a semi-transparent masking agent consisting of afiller of glue and plaster Paris filling the interstices of certainareas of the screen and forming semi-transparent areas and havingdecorative coatings consisting of semi-transparent oil colors which.renders the masking agent Water and damp proof, and a shellac coating onboth sides of the screen, the interstices of the undecorated areas beingopen.

lWARY BRENDA FRANCKLYN.

